Key Facts
| Format | Three 40-minute modules: Critical Thinking (22 multiple-choice questions), Problem Solving (22 multiple-choice questions), Writing Task (1 of 3 essays, 750-word limit) |
|---|---|
| Scoring | Critical Thinking and Problem Solving scored 1.0 to 9.0 (1 decimal place); Writing Task unscored, sent to universities |
| Test rules | No calculator or dictionary; no negative marking, so candidates are advised to attempt every question |
| Results | Issued in the UAT-UK account about 4 weeks after the sitting; sent only to institutions requiring the test |
| Sittings | October sitting 12 to 16 Oct 2026 for Oxford/UCL; January sitting 4 to 8 Jan 2027, limited to some mature/foundation-year applicants |
| Required by Oxford for | PPE, Economics and Management, History and Economics, History and Politics, Human Sciences, Experimental Psychology, PPL |
| Required by UCL for | Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical Engineering |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
The TARA test, short for the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions, is a two-hour computer-based test of critical thinking, problem solving and written communication, sat at Pearson VUE test centres by applicants to a defined set of courses at the University of Oxford and UCL and administered by UAT-UK, a testing body run jointly by Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. It does not test subject knowledge; a strong performance depends on familiarity with the question format, without further study of the A-level syllabus.
Year 12 students applying through UCAS need to check the requirement against their specific course, since Oxford and UCL apply the TARA to a defined set of courses, and a department that requires it for one course does not necessarily require it for every course within that department. Registration with UAT-UK runs to a schedule set apart from the UCAS deadline, and candidates who leave it too late risk missing the booking window entirely.
What is the TARA and which organisation runs it?
The TARA is administered by UAT-UK, the testing organisation set up by Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, which also runs the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) and the TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission). Candidates sit the TARA on a computer at a Pearson VUE test centre, the network used for all three tests, with centres available in more than 180 countries. Cambridge co-runs UAT-UK but does not require the TARA for its own courses; Oxford and UCL do, and each applies it only to the courses stated on its own course pages.
- UAT-UK also administers the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test)
- UAT-UK also administers the TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission)
Which universities and courses require the TARA?
Two universities currently require the TARA, and each applies it to a specified group of courses only, so Year 12 students need to check the course page for the exact route, such as BSc or MEng, they intend to apply for, since requirements can differ within the same department.
Even within a single course, the modules required can differ. Oxford's Economics and Management course page states that candidates applying to Oxford only for that course do not need to complete the Writing Task module, although their test appointment still covers the full two hours on the assumption that all three modules will be attempted.
- Oxford: Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
- Oxford: Economics and Management
- Oxford: Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL)
- Oxford: History and Economics
- Oxford: History and Politics
- Oxford: Experimental Psychology
- Oxford: Human Sciences
- Oxford: Astrophoria Foundation Year, PPE route
- UCL: Computer Science BSc and MEng
- UCL: Computer Science and Mathematics MEng
- UCL: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MEng
- UCL uses the TARA for Mechanical Engineering, BEng and MEng, and applicants should check UCL's course page to confirm current requirements.
Oxbridge Preparation tutors
Michael M.
Master TutorI taught Economics for nine years, latterly as Head of Economics at Winchester College, and I examine for AQA and Edexcel. I teach Economics and Business Studies to A-Level and prepare Oxbridge and UCAS applicants, working from Rosenshine's principles of direct instruction.
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Johanna O.
Expert TutorI have two decades' teaching experience in English Literature, English Language and Philosophy, and hold a PhD in English Literature. I teach GCSE, A-Level, Oxbridge entrance and UCAS personal statements. My approach is person-centred, working through dialogue and ongoing assessment.
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Patryk M.
Expert TutorI have six years' full-time teaching experience and hold Oxford degrees in Classics and Ancient Languages. I teach Latin, History, English, French and Oxbridge preparation from 11+ to Master's level. My approach is student-centred, using dialogue to check understanding as we progress.
Enquire about this tutorWhat are the TARA's sections, timings and question types?
The TARA runs for two hours in total and is divided into three modules of 40 minutes each, sat back to back in a single sitting: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and a Writing Task. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving each present 22 multiple-choice questions, while the Writing Task offers a choice of three essay prompts, of which a candidate answers one, within a 750-word limit.
No calculator or dictionary is permitted in any module, and no marks are deducted for an incorrect answer, so candidates are advised to attempt every question instead of leaving any blank.
- Critical Thinking: 40 minutes, 22 multiple-choice questions
- Problem Solving: 40 minutes, 22 multiple-choice questions
- Writing Task: 40 minutes, one essay chosen from three prompts, maximum 750 words
How are TARA results reported and used?
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored on a scale of 1.0 to 9.0, reported to one decimal place, while the Writing Task is not scored by UAT-UK and is instead forwarded as a copy to the universities named on the candidate's application. Results appear in the candidate's UAT-UK account roughly four weeks after the test sitting, with an email sent to confirm they are ready, and are sent automatically only to the institutions on the UCAS application that require the test.
How a university weighs the score varies by course. Oxford's PPE admissions criteria describe TARA and interview performance as evidence of a candidate's future potential, considered alongside predicted and achieved grades, contextual data, the UCAS teacher reference and the personal statement, and it is not presented as a standalone cut-off score deciding an offer on its own.
When are the TARA sittings, and how does registration relate to the UCAS deadline?
UAT-UK sits the TARA in an October sitting and a January sitting, with candidates permitted to sit it only once per admissions cycle. Oxford and UCL applicants sit the October sitting, which falls in mid-October, with booking closing in late September and results reaching candidates in mid-November. The January sitting is available only to some mature and foundation-year applicants.
Registration opens separately from, and ahead of, the UCAS application. In the most recent round, a UAT-UK account could be created from 1 June, booking for the October sitting opened on 20 July and closed on 28 September, and booking for the January sitting opened on 26 October and closed on 21 December, so candidates intending to sit in October have a defined window of several weeks in which to register.
UCAS itself warns that some admissions tests carry a registration deadline earlier than the UCAS submission deadline, and the TARA is a case in point: Oxford requires all its undergraduate applicants to sit the TARA in October, ahead of its own UCAS deadline, with the Astrophoria Foundation Year the only exception, since its own January UCAS deadline allows its applicants to choose either sitting. UCL applicants who are not also applying to Oxford may choose whichever sitting suits them.
What test did the TARA replace?
At Oxford, the TARA now applies to the courses listed above, having replaced the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA); it is a different test from the TSA, with its own format and content, and UAT-UK's official website publishes the specification and practice material for it. The TARA is also a requirement at UCL, so candidates there should check the current course page directly instead of assuming it follows from whatever assessment a course used in previous cycles.
How should candidates prepare, and what mistakes are worth avoiding?
UAT-UK's own TARA specification and TARA Question Guide, both published on the UAT-UK website, set out the skills each module tests and the style of question used, and are the starting point for preparation. The Pearson VUE landing page for UAT-UK hosts a specimen test with worked answers and a separate practice test that gives a score only, both built in the same software as the live test, and since the TARA has no past papers of its own, these are the only official practice materials available.
- Assuming a university's reputation determines the requirement instead of checking the specific course page, since the TARA applies to defined courses only
- Leaving registration until close to the UCAS deadline, when the TARA's own booking window closes earlier
- Revising subject content instead of practising the question format, since the TARA does not test A-level knowledge
- Overlooking that the Writing Task is not required for every course-university combination, and preparing for the wrong set of modules as a result
- Relying on unofficial mock papers instead of the specimen tests and specification published by UAT-UK
Booking the TARA: UAT-UK account, Pearson VUE and test day
Candidates register for the TARA by creating a UAT-UK account before booking a seat at a Pearson VUE test centre, the same network used for the ESAT and TMUA. The name on the account must match the ID presented on test day, and any request for access arrangements or a bursary has to be submitted before a test slot is selected, since that option closes once a booking is made. Pearson VUE test centres operate in many countries, so most candidates can find a sitting within a reasonable distance of home.
- Create a UAT-UK account before booking; details must match the ID shown at check-in
- Apply for access arrangements or a bursary before selecting a test slot
- Book through Pearson VUE, the same network used for the ESAT and TMUA
- Bring valid photo ID (passport or photo driving licence); no calculators, phones, dictionaries or bags in the test room
- A PC, keyboard, mouse and erasable notebook are provided for rough working
Applicants weighing up TARA-assessed courses against other options can check Oxford acceptance rates by subject before deciding which route to prioritise.
The TARA sits alongside the ESAT and TMUA within the current set of Oxford and Cambridge admissions tests, each tied to a different group of courses.
Applicants deciding between a TARA-assessed course and a mathematics-based course should read our TMUA guide to compare the two tests directly.
Candidates applying for Experimental Psychology, where the TARA is required, often ask what super-curricular activities for Psychology are worth pursuing alongside test preparation.
How the TARA compares with the TMUA
The TARA and the TMUA are both run by UAT-UK and sat at Pearson VUE centres, but they test different things and apply to different courses. The TARA has three 40-minute modules, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and a Writing Task, and carries no subject content. The TMUA is two 75-minute multiple-choice papers testing mathematical knowledge and mathematical reasoning drawn from A-level maths. Oxford requires the TARA for courses such as PPE, Economics and Management and Experimental Psychology, and the TMUA for its Mathematics and Computer Science courses, so the course applied for decides which test is sat.
- TARA: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and a Writing Task; the two multiple-choice modules are scored 1.0 to 9.0
- TMUA: Applications of Mathematical Knowledge and Mathematical Reasoning papers, scored as a single 1.0 to 9.0 result
- Neither test permits a calculator or dictionary
Official TARA preparation material and past papers
The TARA has no past papers of its own, so the official material is the specification, the TARA Question Guide, and the specimen and practice tests described above. Older Thinking Skills Assessment papers come from a retired, different test; their critical thinking and problem solving questions are similar in style, which makes them useful for extra practice once the official material has been worked through, provided candidates remember that the TARA's format and Writing Task differ.
- TARA specification and TARA Question Guide, published by UAT-UK
- Specimen test (with worked answers) and practice test (score only) on the Pearson VUE landing page
- No official TARA past papers yet; TSA archives cover a retired, different test
Tutoring with Taylor Tuition
Families preparing a UCAS application that includes the TARA often look for Oxbridge application support to manage registration deadlines alongside personal statements and references.
Families who come to us for this stage usually want a tutor who can diagnose where the marks are being lost and then build a steady routine around it, and that is how our programmes are set up. Our tutors are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools.
Sessions run online for families across the UK and internationally, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check, and families receive progress reports after sessions.
Read more about our TARA tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the TARA required for applicants to Oxford?
- Only if the specific course applied for requires it. Oxford's own course pages list the TARA for PPE, Economics and Management, Economics, History and Economics, History and Politics, Experimental Psychology and Human Sciences, and for the PPE route within the Astrophoria Foundation Year, and a course not on that list does not carry the requirement.
- Is the TARA required for applicants to UCL?
- UCL requires the TARA for Computer Science BSc and MEng, Computer Science and Mathematics MEng, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MEng, and Mechanical Engineering BEng and MEng. The requirement sits with the specific course, so applicants to other UCL departments should check the current course page directly instead of assuming the same rule applies across the university.
- Can the TARA be retaken if the score is unsatisfactory?
- UAT-UK allows one sitting per admissions cycle, in either October or January, so there is no retake within the same cycle once a result is received. A candidate applying again in a future cycle would need to register and sit the test again under that cycle's own dates and deadlines.
- Does the TARA replace the TSA?
- For the Oxford courses that previously used the Thinking Skills Assessment, the TARA has taken over, developed as a separate test with its own format and content. Candidates preparing for it should use the specification and practice material published on the official TARA website.
- What happens if the TARA registration deadline is missed?
- Missing the booking deadline for a sitting, which falls several weeks before the test dates and is set independently of the UCAS deadline, means a candidate cannot sit the TARA in that window and would need to wait for the next sitting in the same cycle where one is still available, or apply in a later cycle. Since courses that require the TARA will not consider an application without it, checking the UAT-UK booking dates well ahead of the UCAS deadline is worth doing early.
- Does UCL require the TARA?
- Only for some courses. UAT-UK's course list names the TARA for UCL's Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence degrees; UCL applicants to any other course, including those searching for PPE, should check the entry requirements on that course's own page. At Oxford, by contrast, the TARA is required for PPE.
- How is the TARA scored, and what counts as a good score?
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored from 1.0 to 9.0 to one decimal place, with the median candidate fixed at 4.5, and there is no pass mark. The Writing Task is not scored by UAT-UK; it is sent to the universities named on the application. What counts as a good score depends on the course, since admissions tutors weigh it alongside grades, references and the personal statement.
- Is a calculator allowed in the TARA?
- No. Calculators and dictionaries are banned in all three TARA modules: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and the Writing Task. Pearson VUE provides a PC, keyboard, mouse and an erasable notebook and pen for rough working instead, and no personal items are allowed into the test room.
- Is the TARA harder than the TMUA?
- Difficulty is a matter of fit. The TMUA tests mathematical reasoning drawn from A-level maths, so it tends to suit applicants who are strong mathematicians, while the TARA tests critical thinking, problem solving and writing with no subject content, so it tends to suit applicants comparing it to general reasoning tests. Neither is officially rated as harder than the other.
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